In recent years, more and more returnees (including many women) have returned home to establish their own rural enterprises. By applying what they have learned (in other countries), in terms of both production and management of their businesses, they have realized their potential as entrepreneurs. That, in turn, has promoted rural vitalization.

Peng Yang

Orange Connects Hometown, Strange Land

Peng Yang, a native of Fengjie (a county in Southwest China's Chongqing Municipality), has become known far and wide in recent years. Why? She has proved, through her actions, the value of remembering one's original dream and following one's heart.

Peng surprised many of her friends and relatives when she decided to quit her well-paying job, as an employee of an investment bank in England, to return home to start her own business. She made the decision shortly after she graduated from the University of Cambridge, with a doctor's degree in economics. She was one of the university's top students, while she studied in the undergraduate, Mphil and Ph.D. programs in economics from 2007-2016.

Peng's story (of leading Fengjie's farmers in escaping poverty by growing oranges) was highlighted during an exhibition showcasing China's achievements in poverty alleviation, with the theme of "Better Life, Dream Come True." The exhibition was held in June 2018 at the UN (United Nations) headquarters in New York. The event was sponsored by the Permanent Mission of the People's Republic of China to the UN.

Peng will never forget the "glorious moment" when she heard China's national anthem for the first time (during an event) since she began studying in the University of Cambridge (in 2007). That was in June 2014; it was the day when Chinese Premier Li Keqiang met, during his visit to Britain, Peng and several other outstanding Chinese students in the country. Peng was determined to return home to work for the well-being of her compatriots.

As she brainstormed to find a good idea to help people in her hometown get rich, Peng recalled her experience of studying in Cambridge. While she studied in the postgraduate program at the university, Peng and her master supervisor co-authored a thesis on how to stimulate the economic growth and reduce the poverty in Chongqing.

After that, Peng was determined to help Fengjie's impoverished residents improve their lives by applying what she had learned (in Cambridge), in terms of both production and management of her business.

Eventually, Peng decided to help Fengjie's farmers attain wealth by encouraging them to grow oranges. The delicious fruit was a reminder of her sweet home — while she studied in Cambridge.

Peng Yang receives her doctor degree from the University of Cambridge.

Orange Links Dream, Reality

During the summer of 2016, shortly after she returned home, Peng established Chongqing Anyijia Industrial Co., Ltd. She also registered a brand name — So Orange — for oranges sold by her company, so it would be easier to expand her business.

A short time after she established the company, Peng bought an instrument, an infrared ray used to analyze an orange's sugar content and acidity. The equipment was the first of its kind in Chongqing.

At first, many workers in the orange-packing house (under the company) did not understand why Peng asked them to sort oranges. Peng led her employees in Anyijia's sales department in sorting out the fruit with the workers. "The plant holds a birthday party for workers every month," recalls Peng. "As the workers knew us better, they understood why we attached great importance to the quality control of our products."

Peng often comes up with interesting ideas when she manages her business. For example, she has employed a painter to create a caricature of each worker who sorts out oranges in the plant, so customers may learn who are the packagers (of their oranges) by looking at the caricatures stuck on the packing boxes.

Peng has also led her company's product designers in creating a gift box, which contains six large oranges for parents, and six small ones for their children. The product has been well received by many customers.

Soon after they learned about Anyijia's sound development, many of Fengjie's rural residents (including many women), who had left home to work elsewhere, returned home to work for the company.

Peng and her employees' efforts to develop Anyijia's business have paid off, as So Orange has been named An Excellent Chinese Smart Agriculture Project and one of China's Top 10 (Industrial) Brands. Given her outstanding achievements, Peng in recent years has received accolades and special titles, including being named a National March 8th Red-Banner Holder and one of the 10 figures who Touched Chongqing. In October 2018, Peng was elected a delegate to the 12th National Women's Congress, held in Beijing from October 30-November 2, 2018.

"As China has made tremendous efforts to promote the rural vitalization strategy during the past several years, I have integrated my individual ideal (of developing modern rural enterprise) in the realization of the Chinese Dream," says Peng.

Photos Supplied by Peng Yang

(Women of China English Monthly October 2021 issue)